10 Best Royal Rumble Performances Of The 1990s, Ranked
Compared to the 2010s or the 2000s, the Royal Rumbles of the 1990s didn't see much variety as a few names were often the best-booked wrestlers in the match. Whether they were winning it or not, three names popped up multiple times, solidifying their place as some of the best wrestlers in the Royal Rumble match.
WWE: 10 Harsh Realities About The Royal Rumble Fans Need To Realize
While the Royal Rumble is one of the most anticipated events of the year, WWE fans need to realize some harsh truths when it comes to the show.While looking back, it is jarring to see the change in how the match itself was treated and how the talent within was booked, ranging from the end of the Golden Era, the drastic lows of the New Generation Era, and the rise of the Attitude Era. So let's waste no more time and take a definitive look at the absolute best performances of the 1990s Royal Rumble matches.
10 Hulk Hogan At The 1990 Royal Rumble
Won The Match
Entry Position | No. Of Eliminations | Time In Match |
|---|---|---|
#25 | 6 | 12:49 |
The 1990 Royal Rumble was the third event in its historical lineage and the WWE were still trying to work out the kinks and find their rhythm. Names like The Ultimate Warrior and Ted DiBiase had amazing runs in the match, it was Hulk Hogan who stood above the rest as he was able to score six eliminations within 13 minutes.
Stars like Warrior, Haku, and Mr. Perfect were thrown aside by Hogan en route to his first Royal Rumble victory. Hogan entered the match as WWE Champion and would start a program with The Ultimate Warrior, leading to their double-title match at WrestleMania 6.
9 "Stone Cold" Steve Austin At The 1999 Royal Rumble
Was Eliminated By Vince McMahon
Entry Position | No. Of Eliminations | Time In Match |
|---|---|---|
#1 | 8 | 56:38 |
The 1999 Royal Rumble was an odd one as numerous wrestlers weren't able to pick up an elimination besides names like Steve Austin, Mabel, and Kane. Hell, the winner of the match only eliminated one person, that being Austin. Austin's performance saw him on the outside of the ring for the majority of the match due to interference by McMahon's lackeys.
However, when he was able to be in the match itself, Austin earned eight eliminations over names such as Test, Big Boss Man, Ken Shamrock, and Owen Hart. It also worked out for Austin in the long run as he was able to beat McMahon at the following St. Valentine's Day Massacre PPV and take McMahon's earned spot in the main event of WrestleMania 15.
8 Hulk Hogan At The 1991 Royal Rumble
Won The Match
Entry Position | No. Of Eliminations | Time In Match |
|---|---|---|
#24 | 7 | 21:00 |
Hulk Hogan made history when he was able to do the unthinkable and win his second consecutive Royal Rumble match. Earning another later entry, Hogan came in and got seven eliminations, taking out Crush, Earthquake, and Greg Valentine.
The WWE was still working on what the Royal Rumble match even meant at that time. Hogan earned a chance to challenge Sgt. Slaughter for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania, but it wasn't a guarantee until the 1993 event that the winner was automatically penciled in for the main event of WrestleMania.
7 Yokozuna At The 1993 Royal Rumble
Won The Match
Entry Position | No. Of Eliminations | Time In Match |
|---|---|---|
#27 | 7 | 14:53 |
Speaking of. Yokozuna was the first winner of the Royal Rumble who was guaranteed a shot at the WWE Championship in the main event of WrestleMania. His victory came over names like Bob Backlund, Randy Savage, and Tatanka in a quick sub-15-minute performance.
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While fans look back fondly at these Royal Rumble moments, some of them were severely overrated.It has become infamous, however, that Yokozuna won his planned match against Bret Hart for the title before being challenged by Hulk Hogan and dropping the belt in 22 seconds. He'd get the belt back two months later at the King of the Ring event, where he was able to beat Hogan.
6 Sid Justice At The 1992 Royal Rumble
Was Eliminated By Hulk Hogan & Ric Flair
Entry Position | No. Of Eliminations | Time In Match |
|---|---|---|
#29 | 6 | 5:55 |
The 1992 Royal Rumble was also a first, as it was the first time that the WWE Championship was on the line during the Royal Rumble match, due to the title being vacated during the feud between Hulk Hogan and The Undertaker. It would be neither man to leave the match with the belt as Ric Flair lasted an hour in the match before winning it all.
An arguable MVP of the match, however, could be Sid Justice's short-under 6-minute performance where he picked up six eliminations over names like Roddy Piper, Hulk Hogan, and Randy Savage. Sid's feud with Hogan following the event earned them the main event spot at WrestleMania 8 over the WWE Championship feud with Flair and Savage.
5 Diesel At The 1994 Royal Rumble
Was Eliminated By Crush, Bam Bam Bigelow, Mable, Thurman Plugg, & Shawn Michaels
Entry Position | No. Of Eliminations | Time In Match |
|---|---|---|
#7 | 7 | 17:41 |
The biggest talking point after the 1994 Royal Rumble was the controversial finish with Lex Luger and Bret Hart being named co-winners of the match. While both men had solid performances in the match, the best showing went to the man who'd be holding the WWE Championship by Rumble season the following year, Diesel.
He entered at the number 7 spot and was able to get rid of seven wrestlers, such as Scott Steiner, Owen Hart, and Billy Gunn. It also took five other names to get the big man off his feet and out of the ring, including long-time partner Shawn Michaels.
4 Shawn Michaels At The 1996 Royal Rumble
Won The Match
Entry Position | No. Of Eliminations | Time In Match |
|---|---|---|
#18 | 8 | 26:10 |
Again, speaking of Diesel and Shawn Michaels, the two friends would be the final two men in the 1996 event, with Michaels emerging victorious to win his second consecutive Rumble. The Heartbreak Kid squeaked out an impressive eight eliminations against some heavy hitters such as Diesel, The British Bulldog, and Yokozuna.
Famously, Michaels was able to complete "the boyhood dream" when he beat Bret Hart at WrestleMania 12, finally capturing his first WWE Championship after failing against Diesel the year prior.
3 "Stone Cold" Steve Austin At The 1998 Royal Rumble
Won The Match
Entry Position | No. Of Eliminations | Time In Match |
|---|---|---|
#24 | 7 | 15:58 |
Not impressed by either Hulk Hogan or Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin decided to put in the work and become another two-time consecutive Royal Rumble winner with his performance in the 1998 match. Coming in at number 24 and lasting almost 16 minutes, Austin took out names like The Rock, Savio Vega, and Kama Mustafa.
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WWE's Royal Rumble is arguably the most exciting PPV of the entire year, but some wrestlers have suffered some unfortunate brutal injuries.Austin's road to WrestleMania was filled with taunting and assault by the members of D-Generation X until Austin was able to defeat HBK at WrestleMania 14 and capture his first WWE Championship.
2 Shawn Michaels At The 1995 Royal Rumble
Won The Match
Entry Position | No. Of Eliminations | Time In Match |
|---|---|---|
#1 | 8 | 38:41 |
In what has become known as one of the shortest Royal Rumble matches of all time, Shawn Michaels was able to put on an impressive performance when he entered at number 1 and won his first Royal Rumble match. En route to victory, he eliminated names like The British Bulldog, Lex Luger, and both of the Bushwhackers.
As mentioned before, HBK got his chance at the top prize in the WWE at WrestleMania 11 but wasn't able to find success as he was beaten by his former partner Diesel.
1 "Stone Cold" Steve Austin At The 1997 Royal Rumble
Won The Match
Entry Position | No. Of Eliminations | Time In Match |
|---|---|---|
#5 | 10 | 45:07 |
The peak Royal Rumble performance in the 1990s saw Steve Austin enter the 1997 event at the number 5 spot, proceeding to tie a record with Hulk Hogan for most eliminations at ten, and winning the titular match type.
His victory was tainted, however, as Austin was eliminated by Bret Hart earlier in the match, but due to referees being distracted, he got back in the ring. With the controversy around the match, Austin didn't get to challenge for the world title at WrestleMania and, instead, got his chance at the In Your House 13: Final Four event the following month before embarking on a feud against Bret Hart at WrestleMania.
